Baseboard heater



July 13, 1965 E. A. WENGER ETAL BASEBOARD HEATER Filed Oc'l'.. l, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 July 13, E. A WENGER ETAL BASEBOARD HEATER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 1, 1962 United States Patent() 3,194,306 BASEBOARD HEATER Elden Algernon Wenger, 2101 9th Ave. SE., and Clarence La Verne Wenger, l2032 9th Ave. SE., both of Calgary, Alberta, Canada v Filed Oct. 1, 1962, Ser. No..227,253

2` Claims. (Cl. 16S- 56) This invention relates to baseboard heating radiators, particularly for use in domestic hot water or steam heating systems.

Numerous radiators are known for this purpose and they may be of either a radiant or convection type or a combination thereof. The known latter type usually consists of a formed or drawn face portion having conduits attached to the rear face. One form of such connection consists of inserting conduits between a pair of spaced anges formed on the back face of a drawn sheet of material and thereafter bending the anges to grasp the pipe. This method does not permit a particularly tight connection between the conduit and formed channel because of the resiliency of the materials involved. The loose connection permits corrosion and also, because of corrosion and/ or loose t, provides an ineflicient transfer of heat.

The object of the present invention is to provide a baseboard heating radiator of the radiant and convection type formed from composite materials tightly joined so as to provide an efficient heat transfer. Accordingly, the present invention consists of a fluid conduit embedded in a molded thin wall member, having an outer and an inner face, said inner face having a plurality of spaced, substantially parallel tins' formed integral therewith and projecting therefrom.

The invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings wherein;

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a radiator constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a rear elevational view of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along section 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a modified radiator; and

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view along section 5 5 of FIG. 3.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, shown in FIG. 1 is a radiator 10 consisting of a molded thin wall member 11 having a pair of conduits 12 embedded therein.

The member 11 consists of an inverted L-shaped member having leg portions 13 and 14. The portion 13 is relatively short with respect to portion 14 and projects rearwardly from the latters upper edge. The portion 13 abuts against the wall from which the radiator is suspended and includes a rib portion 13A adapted to be engaged by a clip 15 secured to the wall in any convenient manner.

The leg portion 14 includes a substantially smooth flat outer face 16 and a rear face 17 having ns 18 and 19 formed integral therewith and projecting therefrom. The lins are substantially parallel, transverse to the length of the radiator, and extend rearwardly therefrom terminating substantially ush with the edge of the member leg portion 13.

A longitudinal slot 20, adjacent the junction of portions 13 and 14, provides an air discharge opening separated into a plurality of sections by fins 18 which extend to and join onto the leg portion 13. The edge 21 adjacent the slot may be tapered as shown or otherwise shaped depending upon the desired appearance.

rThe fins 19, as will be noted from the drawings, ter- ICC minate slightly below the aperture 20, the edge thereof sloping downwardly and rearwardly therefrom.

The conduits 12 are encased in enlarged rib portions 22 projecting from the rear face of member portion 14. The conduits thus being Vencased are completely surrounded by the aluminum material of the thin wall member. In FIG. 3, it will be noted the conduits are rectangular in cross-section, terminating at each end in axially offset circular end portions 23. The opposite ends preferably are of different diameters whereby the conduits of adjacent radiators, fitted end-to-end, may be readily joined by soldering. Alternatively, a coupling sleeve may be used, if desired, to connect the conduits of adjacent radiators positioned end-to-end.

FIG. 4 illustrates an alternative embodiment wherein the embedded conduits are circular in cross-section throughout their entire length and not having an axial offset end portion. The structure of FIG. 3 results in a larger space between the conduit and the wall from which the radiator is suspended for the circulation of air than does the structure of FIG. 4 for conduits having the same cross-sectional area.

The radiator 1b is adapted to be spaced upwardly from the oor to permit entry of convection currents to ilow between the member portion 14 and the wall, vertical chimney-like channels being defined by the spaced fins 18 and 19.

The conduits are preferably copper, bronze or any other highly conductive material. They are embedded in the rear face of the leg portion 14 during the molding process. The molded member 11 is preferably aluminum and may be produced by a permanent mold process or pressure die-cast method.

The aluminum is lighter than the conventional cast iron 4and thus may be readily handled and provides a more eflicient transfer of heat. The material further is corrosion resistant, and, accordingly, maintains the efficient transfer of heat over longer periods of use.

'I'he integrally molded copper conduits and aluminum member provides for higher contact pressure between the two members than known radiators of a similar construction. This high pressure results in the unlikelihood of corrosion to occur between the elements and results in less water noise during water hammer and during expansion and contraction lof the unit due to repeated heating and cooling. The molding process also permits integrally forming the radiating fins with the remainder of the member and, acordingly, improve the radiant heat trans-fer qualities.

In order to improve the heat transfer qualities, the aluminum castings may be treated. To accomplish this, the casting is degreased, rinsed, then coated with zinochromate or similar material. An undercoat is then applied of the type which is sold under the trade name of Sherwin-Williams. A final coat of paint may then be applied in a suitable color.

We claim:

1. A baseboard radiator adapted to be suspended from a wall comprising a molded thin wall aluminum member and a plurality of conduits encased in an enlarged rib portion projecting from only the rear face thereof, said conduits having a coeiiicient of expansion different from that of the thin wall member and being entirely surrounded by aluminum forming the thin wall member except for portions projecting from each end of the latter there- -by providing means for securing together a plurality of radiators in end-to-end relationship, the outer surface of said conduits being in intimate relatively high pressural engagement with said molded member to expand and contract therewith, said thin wall member being substantially inverted L-shaped in cross section, having a I vertical leg portion with Y to form withrsaid Walli a plurality of chimney-like ,coli-g umns 'for the 'circulationof airtherethrough, selected ones- Y vof said fins interconnecting said'leg portions at a plurality g Y Y 10 2;iThe radiator of claimv 1 Which-includes rneansdeh Y of t spaced intervals. Y

tachably*engagingY the transverse leg portion and ladapted to suspend said radiator from a` Wall Within a room to be heated in spaced relationship with respecttto anoor of" y saidroorn,1 said ns adapted Ytofabnts ai'dfizvall tkodeiineA plurality ofvertical -chinnneydike columns for the- 'circula- .t tion of air. 4 Y 1 l Y t Y References Citkedbv tliefEnrnirner UNITED; sArEs :PnTaNTs Y Y vCHARLES SUKALQPrimmy fiaxzmne'r;V 

1. A BASEBOARD RADIATOR ADAPTED TO BE SUSPENDED FROM A WALL COMPRISING A MOLDED THIN WALL ALUMINUM MEMBER AND A PLURALITY OF CONDUITS ENCASED IN AN ENLARGED RIB PORTION PROJECTING FROM ONLY THE REAR FACE THEREOF, SAID CONDUITS HAVING A COEFFICIENT OF EXPANSION DIFFERENT FROM THAT OF THE THIN WALL MEMBER AND BEING ENTIRELY SURROUNDED BY ALUMINUM FORMING THE THIN WALL MEMBER EXCEPT FOR PORTIONS PROJECTING FROM EACH END TO THE LATTER THEREBY PROVIDING MEANS FOR SECURING TOGETHER A PLURALITY OF RADIATORS IN END-TO-END RELATIONSHIP, THE OUTER SURFACE OF SAID CONDUITS BEING IN INTIMATE RELATIVELY HIGH PRESSURAL ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID MOLDED MEMBER TO EXPAND AND CONTRACT THEREWITH, SAID THIN WALL MEMBER BEING SUBSTANTIALLY INVERTED L-SHAPED IN CROSS SECTION, HAVING A VERTICAL LEG PORTION WITH SAID CONDUITS ENCASED THEREIN AND AN UPPER TRANSVERSE LEG PORTION AND AN ELONGATED SLOT AT THE JUNCTION THEREOF, SAID THIN WALL MEMBER FURTHER INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF SPACED SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL FINS FORMED INTEGRAL THEREWITH AND PROJECTING RADIALLY THEREFROM IN THE DIRECTION OF THE TRAWNSVERSE LEG PORTION TO FORM WITH SAID WALL A PLURALITY OF CHIMNEY-LIKE COLUMNS FOR THE CIRCULATION OF AIR THERETHROUGH, SELECTED ONES OF SAID FINS INTERCONNECTING SAID LEG PORTIONS AT A PLURALITY OF SPACED INTERVALS. 